Geoeges geos



(No Model.)

G. GROS & L. G. POURB. APPARATUS FOR ATTAGHING METALLIC. SEALS.

No. 371,188. Patented Oct. 4, 1887.-

FIG. 4.

UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGES GROS, OF BORDEAUX, AND LOUIS GEORGE POURE, OF PARIS, F RANGE.

APPARATUS FOR ATTACHING METALLIC SEALS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 371,138, dated October4, 1887.

Application filed May 4, 1887. Serial No. 237.037. No model.) Patentedin France Janua'y 26,1887, No. 181,148, and in England June 28, 1887,No. 9,2l2. I

To all whom it may concern.-

Be ltknown that we, GEORGES Gnos, of Bordeaux, France, and LOUIS GEORGEPOURE, of

1 Paris, France, have invented-certain new and plied to an envelope.

.uset'ul Improvements in Devices for Fastening Metallic Seals, (whichhas heretofore been patented to us by the Government of France, datedJanuary 26, 1887, No. 181,148, and by the Government of England, datedJune 28, 1887, No. 9,212,) of which the following is a specification.

In sealing letters heretofore use has been made of gum, sealingwax, orwafers. These means are insufficient, as they do not furnish anysecurity against reopening the letters, either by dissolving the gum orwafers by means of steam or by softening the sealingwaX by means ofheat. Attempts have been made to produce a more perfect sealing ofletters by means of metallic eyelets, which seal has been used insending valuable letters by express. This, however, requires thepunching of holes for the purpose of affixing the metallic eyelets; buteven then the fastening is not absolutely safe, as the seal may be bymeans of pinchers removed from the eyelets, and after the envelope hasbeen opened replaced again.

The object of this invention is to furnish an improved metallic seal andfastener for letters, by which the envelopes are absolutely closed andcannot be opened except by tearing the envelope.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts anddetails, as will be fully described and set forth hereinafter, and thenpointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation ofour improved metallic seal. (Shown before application.) Fig. 2 is a sideView of the same, showing-it ap Fig. 3 is aside elevation, partly insection, of onrimproved device for applying the metallic seal. Fig. 4 isa plan of Fig. 8. Fig. 5 is adetail of the lower die drawn on a largerscale. Fig. 6 is a rear view of the envelope closed by our improvedseals, and showing the device for applying the seal in dotted lines.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Our improved mctallicseal consists ofadisk, h, of sheet metal, which isprovided at its circumference with a number of pointed prongs, 19, thatare made integral therewith, and are about at right angles to the planeof the disk. The prongs are forced through the paper, so as to bend upreadily to the under side of the paper, as shown in the lower half ofFig. 2. The pointed ends of the prongs I? are again bent upward andpierce the paper again, said double-piercing securing the seal firmlyand reliably in position and preventing any tampering with the envelope,as the envelope can only be opened by tearing it. The disk-shapedportion of the seal may be provided with initial letters or othercharacters.

For applying the seal the apparatus shown in Figs. 3, 4., and 5 is used,which is composed of a base-plate consisting of a semicircular arm, A,which carries at one end a die, M, having an annular depression orgroove, m, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. To a pivot, K, at the other end ofthe arm A, is applied a sleeveshaped end of an oscillating arm, B, whichcarries at its opposite end, above the die M, a cylindrical guide-tube,0, above which is mounted a button, D, said button being guided by apunch-shank, d, in the guidetube c, and connected therewith by anannular spring portion, 8, of rubber or other suitable material.

To the pivoted end of the arm B is applied a wire loop, G, by means ofwhich the tube may be conveniently suspended. A spring, 0', is attachedto the pivoted end of the arm D and extended downwardly therefrom, asshown in Fig. 3, said spring-arm bearing on the loop G, and thus holdingthe arm Bin raised position. A heel, 02, extends in upward directionfrom the sleeve end of the arm-B, and serves for raising the arm Bwhenever a metallic seal is to be inserted into the guide-tube 0, theinner edge of the annular depression m of the die M imparting the doublebending of the prongs of the seal, so that the prongs penetrate thepaper at two points.

For applying the fastening metallic seal to the envelope the seal isfirst introduced into the guide-tube c. The left-hand edge, 0, of theenvelope is then moistened and closed before the right-hand edge of theenvelope, 0*, is

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moistened. The arm A is introduced through the unmoistened part of theenvelope, so as to be placed below the sealed edges of the envelope tothe point No. 3, where the seal has to be placed. The arm B is thenquickly depressed by a blow upon the button D, which presses theprongs 1) through the paper and bends them against the under side of thepaper and bends the points up into the paper, as shown in Fig. 2, by theaction of the punchshank d and the die M, the envelope before beprovided with a straight arm, as shown in dotted lines at A in Fig. 4,in which case the arm is introduced through a slit, g, in the envelope,for sealing the same at any desired point.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent The device for fastening seals hereindescribed, composed of an arm having a die with an annular groove ordepression at one end and an oscillating arm pivoted to the other end ofthe arm and provided with a guide-tube for the blank seals, and a springbutton and shank for clinching the prongs of the seal, substantially asset forth.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our invention we have signedour names in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGES GROS. LOUIS GEORGE POURE.

Witnesses as to Georges Gros:

P. GINESTEDS, GREGORY HELAR. Witnesses as to Louis George Poure:

CH. MATHIEU, RoB'r. M. HOOPER.

